Beetle Boy Hardcover by M.G. Leonard

This is a book aimed at kids in the 8-12 age range.  Darkus is a young man faced with the mysterious disappearance of his father.  Darkus has not recovered from the loss of his mother so his father's disappearance really impacts him.  

Darkus is a likeable young man who is befriended by Humphrey and Pickering his neighbors.  The three discover that the beetles infesting Humphrey and Pickering's home are anything but ordinary. 

The villain is the story is the mysterious Lucretia Cutter who evokes visions of Cruella DeVil although beetles are much harder to warm up to than Dalmatian puppies.

It is a cute mystery that seems fine for it's age group.  It moves well and should hold their interest.

web site:  http://www.mgleonard.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.